Boot or shoe



(No Model.)

A. EE-LY. BOOT 0R SHOE.

No. 431,123. PatentedJuly 1, 1890.

Inn/40W 643286" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM A. NEELY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT OR-SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,123, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed April 10, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM A. NEELY, of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Boots and Shoes, of which the following description,

in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This in vention has for its object to improve the durability of boots and shoes, and more especially those worn by ladies, my improvement being applicable to the seams to pre- 'vent the stitches from being worn or cut by the bottom of the dress. To obviate the cutting by the dress and skirts of the seams, especially at the back or heel and where the button-hole piece and top are sewed together, it has been customary to employ stay-pieces of various shapes, and to provide the same with raised parts, so as to embed the lines of stitching.

In accordance with my invention I take strips of strong compact leather-such as harness-leather, sole-leather, or other leather heavier than kid or goat, from which the uppers of the shoes are made aud I groove the same longitudinally and apply it to cover the seams uniting the parts of the upper, stitching the same in place over the said seams by two rows of stitching made diagonally through the stay and upper, the groove in the stay being of such depth and the material of the stay being of such size and strength as not to wear and expose the stitches to be touched by the skirts.

Figure 1 in side elevation represents a shoe embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a piece of stay enlarged, and Fig. 3 a section across the stay at the heel-seam.

The shoe shown is composed, essentially, of two quarters or side pieces a b, a button-hole Serial No. 347,317. (No model.)

piece 0, a vamp d, and a sole e,.the upper and side pieces being suitably lined. The stay f is shown as composed of strong, rather thick, leather, grooved at 2. The parts a l) are sewed together in usual manner through and through when laid face to face by stitches at 2, and the material is then opened and the seam preferably beat out. The stay at the junction of the button-hole piece a and quarterb is like the stay at the heel. To apply these stay-strips the stays are laid upon the seams, (see Fig. 3,) and then, by a needle entering the channel 2 in an inclined direction and through the upper a b, I make two rows of stitches 3 4, they beingput in a diagonal direction, as in Fig. 3, and as the stitches are drawn taut the groove in the stay-strip is partially closed, as shown in Fig. 3.

I may or not, as desired, use the cloth-stayh.

The stay-stri p may be made either of leather or of other strong material, such as indiarubber.

I claim- A boot or shoe having a grooved stay-strip laid upon and to cover a scam, the stitches connecting the stay-strip to the shoe passing diagonally through the stay-strip from the bottom of the groove therein, one line of stitches entering the material of the upper at one side the seam being covered and the other line of stitches the upper at the other side of the said seam, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM A. NEELY.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

